Full Breakdown
NSW Launchs Largest Gun Buyback in Decades After Bondi Beach Attack
8/16/2026, 8:22:41 PM
The Scheme Unveiled
New South Wales will begin a state-run gun buyback on November 2. Owners of handguns, shotguns and rifles can receive up to A$1,000 per firearm in phase 1; phase 2, slated for early 2027, will compensate higher-value weapons up to A$10,000 each. The program is part of the federal National Gun Buyback Scheme and is funded equally by the NSW and Commonwealth governments.
Background to the Reform
The buyback follows the December 14 2025 mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, which left 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl. Police say a father-and-son duo, inspired by IS IL, used legally obtained firearms. In response, NSW tightened gun-ownership limits to four firearms per person (ten for farmers and sport shooters) and re-classified certain weapons, echoing the 1996 Port Arthur reforms.
Scope and Numbers
- 4.1 million firearms were recorded nationwide last year, with 1.1 million in NSW.
- NSW estimates up to 274,000 registered firearms—about 24 % of the state’s total—will exceed the new limits or be re-classified.
- Roughly 50,000 licence holders are expected to be affected.
- Compensation in phase 1 ranges from A$450 for an air rifle to A$1,000 for a revolver or centre-fire rifle; phase 2 will cover weapons valued above A$3,000, capped at A$10,000.
- Premier Chris Minns described the cost as “hundreds of millions of dollars,” split 50/50 between state and federal budgets.
Government Rationale and Plans
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the buyback as essential to prevent a repeat of the Bondi attack and linked it to broader anti-hate measures. NSW Premier Chris Minns called the scheme “the next step” after the post-attack reforms and said it will remove more firearms than the historic Port Arthur buyback. NSW Police will administer phase 1; the Commonwealth will cover destruction costs and half of the administrative expenses.
Opposition Voices
State Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane dismissed the buyback as ineffective, calling it “absolute bulls*” and arguing that “the real enemy” is not law-abiding gun owners. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson** warned the scheme “crucifies” legal owners and questioned the use of taxpayer money.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of firearms to be surrendered: most cite 274,000, while a few reference “more than 270,000.” No definitive cost figure has been released beyond the “hundreds of millions” range. Details on how second-phase valuations will be assessed remain unspecified.
Future Phases
Phase 1 begins November 2, targeting firearms that exceed the new limits. Phase 2, expected in early 2027, will allow owners of high-value guns (above A$3,000) to apply for compensation up to A$10,000. The Commonwealth has pledged to fund weapon destruction, but other states (Queensland, Victoria) have either declined participation or not yet committed, leaving national consistency uncertain.
